Los Angeles: Fly TWA!
The Vintage Map Shop, Inc.
Regular price $45.00
Unit price per
Artwork By: Bob Harmer Smith
Date of Original: 1950
Original Size: 40 x 25 inches
This is a fine print reproduction of a vibrant mid-century travel poster, created for Trans World Airlines (TWA), by Bob Harmer Smith in 1950. Los Angeles is presented as a sun-soaked destination full of historic charm and picturesque landscapes.
Rendered in bold golden and orange tones, the scene captures the warmth and allure of Southern California while a TWA Lockheed Constellation soars overhead. Below, a Spanish-style mission with a red-tile roof and whitewashed walls stands nestled among palm trees, blooming succulents, and a bright landscape of rolling hills and coastline. The composition evokes the romanticized vision of Los Angeles popular in the 1940s and 1950s—an exotic, sun-drenched paradise easily reached by air.
The poster’s artwork was created by Bob Harmer Smith, a commercial illustrator known for his dynamic mid-century travel and advertising posters. Smith worked during the golden age of American aviation advertising, contributing to campaigns for TWA and other major airlines. His style often blended crisp architectural detail with stylized natural elements, using saturated colors and dramatic compositions to heighten a sense of adventure and possibility. Posters like this one are celebrated today for their nostalgic charm and iconic representation of the optimistic era of post-war American air travel.
Inventory #82047